Display device



Jan. 8, 1963 F. HAIRSTON 3,071,965

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Feb. 24. 1959 FESTUS HAIRSTON BY Comm i W (5m ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 8, 1953 3,071,965 DISPLAY DEVICE Festus Hairston, 8774 Cameron, Detroit 11, Mich. Filed Feb. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 794,885 6 Claims. ((11. 73-190) This invention relates to display devices and refers more particularly to apparatus for visually displaying the relative heating elfect of two gas furnace burners.

Three general types of burners are commonly used in gas furnace installation today. They are known in the furnace trade as drill port, open port and jet type burners. Through tests and experiments conducted with various burners of each of the three above named types under laboratory controlled conditions it has been determined that the jet type burners produce as much as twenty-five percent more heat than the drill port and open port types when installed in identical furnaces.

This great difference in the heating ability of the different types of burners is of course a major factor in the choice of the purchase of burners for a given installation. In the sale of such burners however it is extremely difficult to convince a. prospective purchaser that such a great difference exists in the performance of the various types of gas burners. This is particularly true when the performance difference is only expounded verbally or is merely set down in advertising literature. Prospective purchasers want to beconvinced by actual tests conducted before their eyes so that they can observe the performance of the competitive products and determine for themselves if the tests are fair and unbiased.

Therefore it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a display device for displaying the relative heating ability of various heating units.

Another object is to provide a display device for displaying the relative heating ability of various heating units which may be easily transported and operated in homes and offices by one person.

Another object is to provide a visual display device for displaying the relative heating ability of two gas burners which is capable of standing upright unaided ona fiat surface such as a desk top or chair seat during a demonstration of said heating ability.

More specifically it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device for demonstrating the heating ability of two types of gas burners including means for iaintaining the device in an upright position, a fuel reservoir, identical installation means for two gas burners, individual means positioned to be heated by each gas burner and means for visually displaying the heating effect of the individual burners on the last mentioned means.

fuel reservoir, a pair of containers adapted to contain fluid to be heated and including indicators for visually displaying the temperature of said fluid and means for selectively positioning one of said containers over each of said burners so that the fluid thereinwill be heated during operation of the gas burners and means for maintaining said gas burners and containers in spaced relation during lighting of said gas burners.

These and other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partly broken away elevational view of a display device according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the display device of FIGURE 1 with the containers aligned over the burners as they are in operation and during transportation of the device.

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the display device of FIG- URE l with the containers turned ninety degrees from their position in FIGURE 2 to facilitate lighting and inserting the burners.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section of a container and burner of the display device shown in FIGURES l-3 taken on the line 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

One embodiment of the display device of the invention generally designated 10 is illustrated in the figures. As shown the display device 10 includes a mounting or standard 12 supporting a fuel cylinder or reservoir 14. A gas burner mounting assembly 16 is connected to the cylinder 14. A container assembly 18 and gripping means 20 are mounted on the gas burner mounting assembly 16. Temperature indicators 22 and 24 are provided in conjunction with containers '26 and 28 of the container as sembly 18 as shown. In operation the gas burners 30 and 32 are lit with containers 26 and 28 in the position shown in FIGURE 3, the containers 26 and 28 are then placed over the lighted burners as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and the temperature of fluid 34 contained therein is recorded on indicators 22 and 24 thereby giving an indication of the relative heating ability of burners 30 and 32 as will later be explained in more detail.

Standard 12 is provided in conjunction with display device 10 so that the device 10 will remain in an upright position without other support when placed on a flat surface such as that provided by a desk or a chair during a demonstration of the relative heating qualities of burners 30 and 32. The standard 12 comprises a flat plate 36 of relatively heavy material such .as metal to one side of which a clamping device 38 is attached and to the other side of which is covered with a felt cloth or other similar soft material 40. The soft material 45} is provided on the bottom of the standard to prevent scratching of furniture such as desks on which the display device may be placed. Flat plate 36 is preferably heavy and relatively large in diameter to provide stability for the display device as tilting thereof in operation in homes or oflices would be .a serious fire hazard. Clamping device 38 may consist of an 0 clamp as indicated welded to the plate 36 and tightened about cylinder 14 by means of bolt 42. The clamping device 38 may alternately by a pair of C clamps or other clamping means secured to plate 36 by other means such as welding.

Fuel cylinder or reservoir 14 is a standard commercially available pressure cylinder containing gas fuel such as is normally used in gas furnaces .and will therefore not be described in detail. A gas control valve 44 for determining the rate of gas discharge from cylinder 14 is provided with the cylinder. Coupling 46 is used in the display device to provide a transition between the outlet of gas cylinder 14 and gas burner mounting assembly 16.

The gas burner mounting assembly as shown comprises gas conduits 48, 50 and 52, piston block 54, gas burner mounting couplings 56 and 58 and plugs and 62. Conduit 48 extends vertically between coupling 46 and piston block 54 and is attached thereto at opposite ends of convenient means such as a threaded connection. Conduits 50 and 52 are in line axially and extend from opposite sides of piston block 54 at right angles to conduit 48. Conduits 48, 50 and 52 therefore form a T-connection from the gas outlet of cylinder 14. The outer ends of conduits 50 and 52 are provided with gas burner mounting couplings 56 and 58 into which gas burners of the closed port, open port or jet types may be screwed for a particular demonstration of their relative heating ability.

It is essential in the display device that the conduits 50 and 52 and the couplings 56 and 58 be identical. That is to say the gas passages 60 and 62 to both burners must be of exactly the same size so that an equal amount of gas is delivered to both burners. If this is not true the demonstration will produce a false result. In this connection plugs 60 and 62 are provided in couplings 56 .and 62 so that before a demonstration is started the plugs can be removed so that the persons to whom the demonstration is to be made can see through both conduits and thereby determine that they are the same size and therefore that the demonstration results are due to the different burners placed in couplings 56 and 58 and not due to structural trickery in the display device. It can be appreciated that a display device such as that of the invention will be effective only if it can be easily 2 shown that the different temperature indications obtained during a demonstration are due only to the heating units such as gas burners 30 and 32 being tested.

The gripping means comprises a gripping bar 66 attached to vertical rod 68. Rod 68 is secured to piston block 54 at its lower end as shown. It will be appreciated that the connections between block 15, rod 68 and bar 66 may be screw connections, welds or other convenient means. Gripping means 20 serves as a handle so that the display device may be easily transported and also is useful in preparing a demonstration as will be later pointed out.

Container assembly 18 comprises a hollow cylinder type member 70, container supporting plate 72, container securing brackets 74 and wing-head bolts 76, container cups 26 and '28, and inspection couplings 82 and 84 and tubes 86 and 88 arranged as shown.

Cylinder member 70 slidably engages piston block 54 and as shown is biased toward fuel conduits 50 and 52 by spring 90 acting in conjunction with cap 92 which may be secured to cylinder member 70 by any convenient means such as screws. Spring 90 prevents the container assembly 18 from moving rapidly toward gripping rod 66 should the display device be turned upside down in transportation and also assures firm seating of cylinder 70 on conduits 50 and 52. It will be noted that axial slots 94 are provided in cylinder 70 to permit cylinder 70 to extend below conduits 50 and 52. Such construction prevents undesirable rotation of cylinder 70 during a demonstration as will later be explained. As shown the bottom of cylinder 70 is also provided with shallow -shaped portions 96 at ninety degrees to slots 94. V-shaped portions 96 serve also to inhibit rotation of cylinder 70 at certain times during the operation of the device It as will later be explained.

Container supporting plate 72 as shown is centrally attached to cylinder70 by convenient means such as welding and includes annular portions 98 and 100 integral with or attached to the ends thereof on which annular cup containers 26 and 28 are supported. Containers 26 and 28 are held securely in place on portions 98 and 100 of plate 72 by means of a plurality of brackets "74 permanently fixed to portion-s 98 and 100 and winglhead bolts 76.

Containers 26 and 28 as shown are identical annular cups. As shown each annular cup is provided with an inspection coupling 82 and 84 respectively and a transparent inspection tube 86 and 88. The containers as shown in FIGURE 4 are particularly adapted for holding liquid heat responsive material 34 such as Water. The level of the water in the containers during a demonstration may readily be determined by a glance at the inspection tubes. It is essential in demonstrating the relative effects of the heating units and 32 that the cups 26 and 28 are identical and the fluid level in each be the same during a demonstration. If it were otherwise the different temperature readings on indicators 22 and 24 would not be due solely to the effect of the different heating units.

Indicators 22 and 24 are commercially available temperature gages such as are used in the food preparation industry and will not therefore be considered in detail. As shown they are mounted on brackets 102 and 104 with their temperature responsive ends with cups 26 and 28 in a manner such that the temperatures of liquids within the cups will be indicated thereby. As with conduits 50 and 52 and containers 26 and 23, indicators 22 and 24 must be identical to provide an honest demonstration.

It will of course be understood that the parts of the display device described above in the vicinity of burners 30 and 32 should be of heat resistant material such as metal and glass or thermo-setting plastic.

In use, the display device without burners '30 and 32 attached thereto is set upright on standard 12 on a desk or other fiat surface. The container assembly is rotated ninety degrees with respect to conduits 50 and 52. Such rotation is easily accomplished by placing the palm of one hand over knurled gripping bar 66, grasping the knurled cap 92 of cylinder member 70 with downwardly extending thumb and fingers of the same hand and lifting the container assembly up against the bias of spring and rotating it with the thumb and fingers. On being raised and rotated so that slots 94 are out of alignment with conduits 50 and 52, the cylinder 90 will rest with V-shaped portions 96 on conduits 50 and 52. At this time, due to the V-shaped portions on cylinder 70 the container assembly Will assume a position as shown in FIGURE 3 at ninety degrees to conduits 50 and 52 when it is released and Will not tend to rotate from this position. The plugs 60 and 62 may then be removed to show that the gas passages to each burner are identical. Plugs 60 and 62 may then be easily replaced. Burners 30 and 32 may then be screwed in couplings 56 and 58, and the container filled with fiuid such as water to the same level as indicated in inspection tubes 86 and 88. The fuel is then allowed to pass from containers 14 to burners 30 and 32 and the burners are lit. The container assembly is again raised and rotated as above described until slots 94 are aligned with conduits 50 and 52. The container assembly when released will then be in the position shown in FIGURES l and 2. The assembly 18 will be provided directly over the lighted burners 26 and 28 and will be locked against rotation by slots 94 in contact with conduits 50 and 52. The heat from the burners will cause heating of the fluid 34 in the identical containers 26 and 28 in their position surrounding the burners 3t} and 32 respectively as shown best in FIGURE 4. The identical indicators 22 and 24 positioned within containers 22 and 24 as shown will then display the temperature of the fluid 34 and will indicate therefore the relative heating effect of different burners which may be placed in couplings 56 and 62.

It will be of course appreciated that while the embodiment of the invention disclosed above contemplates the display of the relative heating effect of various gas ,burners that the principles of the invention may be applied to the display of the relative effect of other types of units as well.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved display device in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A display device for indicating the relative heating effects of dilferent heating units, comprising a support, a pair of structurally different heating units removahly secured to said support in fixed positions thereon, a pair of identical containers for storing identical heat responi l l i sive material pivotally mounted on said support for rotation together into similar positions with respect to said pair of heating units, and identically positioned, identical means operably associated with each of the containers for indicating the temperature of material stored within each of the containers.

2. A display device for indicating the relative heating effects of difierent heating units, comprising a support, a pair of structurally diiferent heating units removably secured to said support in fixed positions thereon, a pair of identical containers for storing identical heat responsive material pivotally mounted on said support for movement together into identical positions directly over said heating units and predetermined positions not over said heating units, means for locking said containers in the position over said heating units, means for inhibiting movement of said containers from said predetermined position, and identically positioned, identical means operably associated with each of the containers for indieating the temperature of material stored within each of the containers.

3. A display device for indicating the relative heating effects of different heating units, comprising a support, a fuel reservoir secured to said support, a pair of structurally different heating units, identical means for conmeeting said heating units to said fuel reservoir including a piston, a cylinder sleeved over said piston, a pair of identical containers for storing identical heat responsive material supported by said cylinder simultaneously movable on rotation of said cylinder with respect to said piston into identical positions over said heating units, and identically positioned, identical means secured to each of said containers for indicating the temperature of material stored within each of said containers.

4. Structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein said identical means for connecting said heating units to said fuel reservoir further includes a conduit extending axially of said piston connected between the reservoir and the piston and a pair of aligned conduits extending transversely of said piston to which the heating units are connected, and wherein said cylinder is slotted longitudinally to re ceive the transverse conduits on movement of said containers axially of said piston after said containers are moved into a position over the heating units whereby the containers are locked against rotation in said position over the heating units.

5. Structure as claimed in claim 4 and further including resilient means operable between said piston and cylinder to urge said transverse conduits into the slots in said cylinder.

6. A display device for indicating the relative heat-ing effects of different heating units, comprising a support, a pair of structurally different heating units, means supporting said heating units in fixed positions relative to the support, a pair of identical containers for storing identical heat responsive material, means mounting the containers on the support for movement together into identical positions with respect to said pair of heating units, and separate, identical means positioned equidistant from each of said burners operably associated With each of the containers for indicating the temperature of material stored within each of the containers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,745,195 Gombert May 15, 1956 2,902,857 Sayers et al. Sept. 8, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 397,973 Germany July 2, 1924 

1. A DISPLAY DEVICE FOR INDICATING THE RELATIVE HEATING EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT HEATING UNITS, COMPRISING A SUPPORT, A PAIR OF STRUCTURALLY DIFFERENT HEATING UNITS REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID SUPPORT IN FIXED POSITIONS THEREON, A PAIR OF IDENTICAL CONTAINERS FOR STORING IDENTICAL HEAT RESPONSIVE MATERIAL PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR ROTATION TOGETHER INTO SIMILAR POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID PAIR OF HEATING UNITS, AND IDENTICALLY POSITIONED, IDENTICAL MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THE CONTAINERS FOR INDICATING THE TEMPERATURE OF MATERIAL STORED WITHIN EACH OF THE CONTAINERS. 